"We still need to work on passes into the post and carrying over what we work on in practice into the games," said junior guard Bayley Goodman, who scored eight points and dished five assists.

The schedule will not lighten up approaching the postseason. Benton Central's final seven opponents have a combined 81-35 record and all are above .500.

BC coach David Baxter and West Central coach Brad Odom relived battles from their days as Wabash River Conference foes when Baxter coached Attica and Odom was at Fountain Central.

This time, Baxter's squad used defensive whiz Evonnie Payne to clog up the passing lanes and in the third quarter, exploited West Central's lack of height with a flurry of lob passes in the paint to 6-foot-2 center Kaylan Coffman.

Coffman scored eight of her game-high 20 points in the third and Payne finished with five steals and 11 points.

"We have absolutely no recipe to guard Coffman and we knew that," Odom said. "We don't have a true post player. We don't have a banger."

Kaylan Coffman with a score against West Central Thursday, January 22, 2015, at Benton Central High School. Benton Central thrashed West Central 63-34. John Terhune/Journal & Courier, John Terhune/Journal & Courier

Benton Central's Bayley Goodman with a three point shot over Gretchen Blackburn of West Central Thursday, January 22, 2015, at Benton Central High School. Benton Central thrashed West Central 63-34. John Terhune/Journal & Courier, John Terhune/Journal & Courier

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As Benton Central opened up a lead midway through the second quarter and then ran away with a 20-2 outburst in teh third, the result was not in question.

It also was not the most important factor for the Trojans (14-4), who viewed Thursday's matchup as a measuring stick. West Central has won four straight sectional titles and seven since 2005. Last season, the Trojans took the next step by advancing to the regional championship game.

"You get better playing a team like that than going out and winning by 30 or 40 points," Odom said. "If we want to be successful further in the tournament, we've got to compete against them for long stretches. And I think we did at times."

Ashton Barkho led West Central with 11 points and Mickayla Wenzel scored 10.

Likewise, the Bison used Thursday's matchup as a measuring stick of sorts with a run of talented and quick point guards on the upcoming schedule. Barkho's speed and ability to handle the ball under pressure provided a test for the Bison up top.

"Barkho is a tremendous athlete. She's very athletic and handles the ball well," Baxter said. "She is a very good guard and will definitely prepare us for athletes like (Kerstyn) Lowery at McCutcheon, (Cameron) Onken at Central Catholic and West Lafayette has four or five guards who are explosive."